| The list includes some very modest eateries | | | | smelling salts. That said, for those who can |
| where you will not spend a fortune but will | | | | afford it, it will remain a unique |
| still eat well. There are now so many | | | | experience. Rules 35 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7LB |
| restaurants in London, that this is just a | | | | (020 7836 5314) Price £49.00 Rules has |
| cross section of those available but | | | | been serving traditional British food for |
| everybody should find something that will | | | | over 200 years and the decor reflects this. |
| appeal to their tastebuds and pockets. | | | | To some it is elegant dining, to others it is |
| Michelin Star Restaurants Le Gavroche 43 | | | | a bit like an Olde England theme park either |
| Upper Brook Street, W1K 7QR (020 7408 0881) | | | | way it is a great way to sample some of the |
| Albert and Michael Roux set the benchmark for | | | | finest British cuisine and that includes |
| Haute Cuisine for London restaurants many | | | | those glorious English puddings. The only |
| years ago and son Michael Roux Jnr is now | | | | problem is you will need to have the |
| doing the same. Elegant dining such as this | | | | wherewithal of at least a minor member of the |
| does not come cheap, a minimum price of | | | | aristocracy to pay for the meal. If you go to |
| £60 each, but with 2 Michelin stars over | | | | the Tate Modern to feed your artistic soul, |
| the door you just know it is money well pent. | | | | you will have the choice of two fine |
| Gordon Ramsay On Royal Hospital Road 68 Royal | | | | restaurants. Tate Modern Restaurant: Level 7 |
| Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 4HP (020 | | | | 7th Floor, Tate Modern, Sumner St, SE1 9TG |
| 7352 4441) Lunch Menu £40 7 Course Dinner | | | | (020 7401 5014 ) Whilst in the Tate Modern, |
| Menu £110 With a 2 month waiting list you | | | | you should take the lift to the 7th floor |
| will have to plan ahead if you want to eat | | | | where, if you can get a window table, you |
| here and with three Michelin stars, you just | | | | will get some stunning views of the river to |
| know the food will be out of this world. Any | | | | accompany your stunning food which luckily is |
| serious foodie would kill his own Mother to | | | | not named after any types of art. The cuisine |
| get a seat here to sample the French and | | | | is modern European and sourced from both |
| Mediterranean dishes. It is a credit to | | | | Britain and the continent. Views and foods |
| Gordon Ramsay that despite being listed in | | | | this good do not come cheap so if you are on |
| the top five restaurants in the world, the | | | | a modest budget, you might like to try the |
| house wine is only £15 although the | | | | cafe on the 2nd floor where children are very |
| extensive wine list contains some fine wines | | | | well catered for. If you are not too tired |
| at a lot more than that. Petrus The Berkeley, | | | | then try:- Northbank One Paul's Walk, EC4V |
| Wilton Place, Knightbridge, London, SW1X 7RL | | | | 2EH (020 7329 9299) Just a quick stroll |
| (020 7235 1200) Chef, Marcus Wareing has | | | | across the bridge and you will find this |
| earned his two Michelin stars by serving up | | | | cathedral to the finest provender the |
| some of the finest French cuisine available | | | | South-west of England can supply, cooked to |
| and that includes in France. The restaurant, | | | | perfection. It doesn't come cheap but after |
| situated in the Berkley Hotel a known haunt | | | | such a meal you will be more than happy to |
| of the Queen, is named after one of the | | | | pay. Summer visitors will enjoy the outdoors |
| finest red wines in the world. You can enjoy | | | | tables and if you get there sooner you will |
| a bottle with your meal but with prices | | | | still be able to marvel at the 'Glass |
| starting at over £300 and ending in a | | | | Gherkin' building. Don't forget to take a |
| wallet busting £12,300, you may wish to | | | | closer look at the wall paper, it is a modern |
| try the house red at around £15 per | | | | toile that reflects the City of London |
| bottle, although this may be an insult to the | | | | surroundings. Red Fort 77 Dean Street, W1D |
| magnificent food. Locanda Locatelli 8 Seymour | | | | 3SH (020 7437 2115) The authentic cuisine of |
| Street, London, W1H 7HT, (020 7935 9088) | | | | North India has made the Red Fort a focal |
| Although I have not eaten there yet, I must | | | | point for the Indian food afficionados. It is |
| admit this is my favourite celebrity chef. He | | | | the exquisite cuisine and stylish |
| always comes across a passionate believer in | | | | surroundings that have attracted the good and |
| the quality of his ingredients and the joy of | | | | the great. A definite must for any visitor |
| cooking them. I am sure his two Michelin | | | | but beware, you will never quite enjoy your |
| stars are an understatement. If Italian food | | | | own local take away again. Myung Ga 1 Kingly |
| is your passion this is the temple where you | | | | Street, W1B 5PA (020 7734 8220) This Korean |
| can worship it in. The amazing thing is that | | | | restaurant is a haven for basic Korean food |
| you can dine here for about £30 each and | | | | as the number of Koreans, Chinese and |
| you will find many good wines at under £20 | | | | Japanese eating there will demonstrate. This |
| per bottle. Nobu Metropolitan Hotel, 19 Old | | | | bustling restaurant would be a great place |
| Park Lane, London, W1 Y4LB (020 7447 4747) | | | | for the novice to be introduced to the tastes |
| This 2 Michelin star restaurant was the haunt | | | | of Korea. Wahaca 66 Chandos Place, London, |
| of both pop and movie stars where the tempura | | | | WC2N 4HG Average Price: £50 This is a real |
| is sublime. Japanese cuisine is always | | | | Mexican restaurant that specialises in street |
| expensive so the £60 per person will not | | | | food with ingredients that are ethical and |
| phases the Japanese affictionados. Other | | | | traceable. Authentic is the keyword so be |
| Great Restaurants Texture 34 Portman Square, | | | | prepared to be surprised if you are used to |
| W1H 7BY (020 7224 0028) The nearest tube is | | | | the usual old tex-mex that has been touted |
| Marble Arch but if you can afford to eat here | | | | around for years. The sample menu is a good |
| you will not be travelling by public | | | | place to start, just be careful of the |
| transport. Dinner for two with wine and | | | | freshly prepared hot sauces. Dining On A |
| service costs around £150. Has a Champagne | | | | Budget Stockpot 18 Old Compton Street, Soho, |
| bar that is worth a visit. This restaurant is | | | | W1D 4TN 273 Kings Road, London, SW3 5EN 38 |
| the brainchild of Agnar Sverisson, the | | | | Panton Street, London, SW1Y 4EA Opened in |
| Icelandic former head chef at Le Manoir aux | | | | 1958 this small chain of inexpensive |
| Quatre Saisons, (Raymond Blanc's flagship | | | | restaurants are still providing the capital |
| restaurant) and Xavier Rousset who was the | | | | with nourishing food at affordable prices. |
| Head sommelier there. One can only wonder at | | | | The menu is simple British and continental |
| the day they both decided to leave! The decor | | | | with generous portions. For those on a |
| could be described as Icelandic cool, the | | | | limited budget this cannot be topped. I have |
| cuisine in the nouvelle style and the | | | | eaten at all these locations and can attest |
| ingredients are the best. A great | | | | to the quality as does the number of people |
| introduction is the started menu which will | | | | who you will find eating there. Yo! Sushi |
| give you a pointer to your next visit. Don't | | | | MyHotel, 11-13 Bayley Street, Bedford Square, |
| leave it too long as a Michelin star or two | | | | WC1B 3HD also at Harrods, Harvey Nichols, |
| cannot be far away and you know what that can | | | | Selfridges and many other places. A fun way |
| do to the prices and the waiting list. | | | | to eat sushi that will not break the bank. As |
| Daphne's 112 Draycott Avenue, SW3 3AE (020 | | | | you sit, the different sushi goes around on a |
| 7589 4257) Price £48.00 Another Italian | | | | conveyor belt so you can help yourself from |
| restaurant that has been favoured by stars, | | | | the cooked and raw dishes. A nice, if |
| particularly for the lunch time crowd and why | | | | expensive twist is the water pump at each |
| not, the food is excellent and the service | | | | table. Rootmaster Old Truman Brewery, Brick |
| attentive without being over-bearing. At | | | | Lane, E1 6QL If you are looking around the |
| least it was when I ate there a couple of | | | | City of London and want something different |
| years ago. It has a novel open space that | | | | then this is the place for you, especially if |
| makes summer dining a real pleasure. Even | | | | you are a vegetarian and if you are not, then |
| though they take great pride in sourcing as | | | | this would be a great introduction to the |
| much of their produce from caring British | | | | cuisine. The bonus is that you get to eat on |
| producers, their risottos and pasta dishes | | | | one of what used to be, London landmarks, a |
| are second to none and are complimented by a | | | | big red Routemaster Bus, hence the name pun. |
| fine selection of Italian wines. Cantina del | | | | Fantastic noodles and falafel made in the |
| Ponte 36C Shad Thames, Butler's Wharf, SE1 | | | | shape of burgers make this a truly unique |
| 2YE Price £25 This is the cheaper version | | | | eating experience. Sticky Fingers' Cafe 1a |
| of Sir Terrance Conrans restaurant La Ponte | | | | Phillimore Gardens, Kensington, W8 7EG When |
| de la Tour, right on the river, overlooking | | | | Bill Wyman wasn't Rolling with the Stones he |
| Tower Bridge with spectacular views of the | | | | started this restaurant which serves burgers, |
| river Thames which make it an excellent | | | | ribs and tex-mex. The food must be good as it |
| summer dining establishment. The menu is | | | | still going strong after many years. Situated |
| traditional Italian fare cooked to | | | | in a side street off the High Street |
| perfection. I had a pizza which, having come | | | | Kensington makes it a perfect mid shopping |
| from their wood fired oven was just sublime | | | | break. Hard Rock Cafe 150 Old Park La, W1K |
| and the Tiramisu to follow did not | | | | 1QR, (020 76290382) The daddy of them all, |
| disappoint. The food is well complimented by | | | | they set the standard for burgers in London |
| an extensive wine list. Bibendum Michelin | | | | long before any of the chains opened up |
| House, 81 Fulham Road, SW3 6RD (020 7581 | | | | London. I would tell you when I first went |
| 5817) If seafood is your passion, this is the | | | | there but I am afraid I might show my age. |
| place for you. Opened by Sir Terrance Conran | | | | They have gone global but the ethics are |
| twenty years ago in the old Michelin Tyre | | | | still the same, good food in great |
| Depot, you will think you are in Paris as you | | | | surroundings and reasonable prices and you |
| feast on superb fish dishes amid the | | | | can get the t-shirt. Pizza Express Although |
| splendour of the art deco features like the | | | | the Pizza Express is a chain, you will not be |
| huge stained glass windows. Before you ask, | | | | disappointed by the quality of the pizzas |
| there are also some fine meat dishes that are | | | | unless you only like yours made in the deep |
| also cooked to perfection. Lindsay House 21 | | | | pan style because they only make the |
| Romilly Street, W1D 5AF (020 7439 0450) If | | | | traditional thin crust style. They do have a |
| you wish to dine like a Georgian English | | | | selection of other dishes available as well. |
| gentleman with an British menu then you will | | | | Some of the restaurants have live jazz so you |
| do no better than Lindsay House where Richard | | | | can make an evening of it. You are now ready |
| Corrigan, a rising TV star, serves a | | | | to venture out and sample the culinary |
| wonderful menu sourced from the best | | | | delights of London, whether it is a fine |
| providers. Pigs trotters or smoked eel salad | | | | British menu or something from further afield |
| served in a genteel 18th century drawing room | | | | and you won't necessarily need a bank balance |
| may have you thinking that you will be able | | | | the size of Fort Knox to enjoy them. The top |
| to get a sedan chair home. The 21st century | | | | restaurants, especially those with Michelin |
| will hit you at the end when the espresso is | | | | stars, may need to be pre-booked so it may be |
| served at nearly £5 per cup which would | | | | advisable to check before you travel, it |
| make even the aristocracy reach for their | | | | would be so disappointing to miss them. |